A double blow to Congress’s disqualification strategy in Telangana: Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad has rejected petitions against BRS MLAs P Kaushik Reddy and G Mahipal Reddy. This latest ruling reinforces the opposition’s foothold in a state assembly teeming with defection whispers.
The cases spotlighted alleged disloyalty during the 2024 Lok Sabha hustings, with the MLAs publicly endorsing Congress hopefuls. Petitions painted this as textbook defection, urging invocation of the stringent 10th Schedule. BRS countered fiercely, submitting evidence of continued party membership and no legislative betrayal.
After poring over documents and arguments, the Speaker’s order was unequivocal. He distinguished between ‘political dissent’ and ‘constitutional defection,’ ruling the former applicable here. No evidence of whip violation or group exodus was found, thus no grounds for disqualification. ‘The law protects democratic expression within bounds,’ he articulated.
Cheers from BRS ranks were loud, with the party accusing Congress of ‘bullying opposition voices.’ Congress hit back, labeling it a ‘pro-BRS Speaker’ move and vowing Supreme Court intervention. Patterned after prior dismissals, it highlights a cautious approach to such matters post the Congress’s ascent to power.
In broader terms, the decision probes the anti-defection framework’s adaptability to modern politics, where social media amplifies individual stances. For Telangana, it stabilizes legislative numbers ahead of key sessions, but simmering rivalries promise more showdowns. Political watchers see it as a win for procedural fairness in turbulent times.